Broken Arrow's Blue Star Moms strapped for cash

They help a mother's love span thousands of miles to reach troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, but unless someone steps in to help them, the Broken Arrow Blue Star Moms may not be able to make ends meet.

Tuesday, May 24th 2005, 10:30 am

By: News On 6

They help a mother's love span thousands of miles to reach troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, but unless someone steps in to help them, the Broken Arrow Blue Star Moms may not be able to make ends meet.

The News on 6's Heather Lewin has more on how the Blue Star Moms' biggest fundraiser of the year is falling apart. "People seem to think that the war is over, but the loneliness isn't. And I have had my own son write to me about boys who never received a letter."

Every Tuesday some Broken Arrow military moms meet to try and make things a little better for US troops. The children they once packed lunches for, now receive boxes, filled with a mother's love, to men and women at war. "Politics does not enter our building here. We don't care who the President is. We are here for our boys and girls."

The moms work for free, but shipping takes cash. So the group started a charity golf tournament to raise money. "Essentially, the golf tournament was our backbone of getting out so many boxes."

Last year's tournament brought in more than $5,000. The moms used every bit on postage. This year, with the event scheduled and applications mailed, their corporate sponsors, Hertz and Bethel Body Shop suddenly pulled out. "We are now scrambling to find someone to replace them."

Marcia says she and the other moms aren't giving up, but the tournament is just weeks away. And without more players and a sponsor, many of the boxes will sit on the shelf. Marcia has faith; she says the Broken Arrow community has been good to the group. "They've all come to our rescue whenever we need them. And I'm sure they will again."

Hertz had no comment on why it stopped supporting the Moms. Bethel workers say they're too small of a company to carry it on their own.

The tournament is scheduled for June 21st, but entries are due next week. For more information on how to help, call the Broken Arrow Blue Star Mothers at 269-4364.

There are 10 separate Blue Star groups in Oklahoma, each serving its own community.